Extensible workman&#39;s support



y 1966 5. H. ECKELS 3,252,543

EXTENSIBLE WORKMANS SUPPORT Original Filed March 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR.

Y GEORGE H. ECKELS law, 64 JM ATTORNEYS May 24, 1966 e. H. ECKELS3,252,543

EXTENSIBLE WORKMAN S SUPPORT Original Filed March 12, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

GEORGE H. ECK ELS 310M, ATTQRNEYS United States Patent 4 Claims. (Cl.182-141) This invention relates in general to derricks or cranes, andmore particularly to a derrick, crane or tower where in the boom thereofmay be selectively and generally telescopically, extended and retracted,for adjusting the operating range of the derrick.

This application is a division of the copending application to George H.Eckels, Serial No. 178,926, filed March 12, 1962.

The derrick or like appratus of the invention is illustrated as being ofa portable type, mounted on a utility type vehicle, and one which may beadapted for elevating a workman adjacent an overhead object, such aspower lines, street lights or the like.

In the copending United States patent application of George H. Eckels,Serial No. 102,458, filed April 12, 1961, now US. Patent 3,073,396,issued January 15, 1963, there is disclosed a portable type derrickmounted on the utility type vehicle for handling various objects, andwhich derrick is adapted to be employed to advantage in conjunction withother types of equipment, such as for instance an earth boring tool, forperforming all of the necessary work operations associated with settinga utility line pole in proper place along a throughfare or the like. Thederrick disclosed in such pending application comprises a sectional,extensible boom and includes means on the boom for attaching anassociated work mechanism, such as an earth boring tool to the boom, andfor adjusting the position of the work mechanism lengthwise along theboom, and wherein telescoping, fluid transmission lines are mounted onthe derrick boom, providing for effective transmission of actuatingfluid along the boom to a fluid powered motor unit of the earth boringtool, irrespective of the supported position of the tool with respect tothe boom, thereby preventing any slack from occurring in the fluidtransmission lines.

The present invention provides a novel arrangement of fluid transmissionlines which are of a pretensioned, coiled nature, adapted to be mountedon or in an ex tensible boom, and which are eflective for providing forthe transmission of actuating fluid along the boom in any extended orretracted condition of the latter, and which may automatically extendand retract with the extension and retraction of the boom.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide an arrangement ofreciprocal or extensible type tower boom having a novel arrangement offluid transmission line means associated therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement ofextensible, pretensioned coiled fluid transmission line means for use intransmitting actuating fluid along an extensible boom.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a portable typetower including a sectional, extensible boom, for telescopically varyingthe eifective length of the boom,

and wherein there is provided a novel extensible arrangement of fluidtransmission line means associated with the boom, for transmission ofpressurized fluid along the boom and during extension and retraction ofthe boom, and wherein such fluid transmission line means comprises acapsulated, pretensioned, flexible coiled conduit adapted for disposalwithin the telescoped boom sections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in con junction with accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an extensible derrickboom carrying an earth boring tool on the boom, and one embodying theextensible and retractable fiuid transmission line arrangement of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the extensibleboom sections, together with a reciprocal fluid powered motor means forextending and retracting the boom sections, and illustrating thecapsulated pretensioned coiled form fluid transmission line meansassociated with the boom sections;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the capsulatedfluid transmission line means of the invention in non-extendedcondition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the telescopedcapsule surrounding the coiled fluid transmission line means of theinvention, with such line means being disposed in extended condition dueto extension of the surrounding capsule sections;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another form of theextendible boom and one having a personnel bucket mounted on the outerend thereof, and with such boom including the pretensioned coiled fluidtransmission line means of the invention. 7

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there isshown a fragmentary portion of a wheeled utility vehicle 10 having atruck body which carries a movable derrick 12 thereon. The derrick boomembodies an inner or lower relatively stationary, generally hollowsection 22, and also embodies an outer, generally hollow extendiblesection 26, which may be received in telescoping relation in the loweror inner section 22 of the boom. A reciprocal fluid powered motor unit28 (FIG. 2) may be disposed interiorly of the boom sections, and iscoupled at one end to the inner one of the boom sections, and at theother end, as at 30, is coupled to the other or outer boom section, forextension and retraction of the boom sections in a manner known in theart.

The boom, in the embodiment illustrated, is pivotally mounted as at 31to base structure 31a, and a linkage erecting or actuating arrangement32 is provided, together with a double acting reciprocal fluid poweredmotor unit or ram 34, for moving the derrick in a generally verticalplane and through an arc of movement which may be in excess of The basestructure 31a may also be so arranged so as to be swingable in agenerally horizontal plane, and in a known manner. Reference may be hadto the aforementioned copending patent application for a more detaileddescription of the derrick structure per se.

In the embodiment illustrated, an earth boring mechanism or tool 35 isselectively coupleable to either the extendible section 26 of the boomor to the relatively stationary section 22 of the boom. This arrangementmay comprise a tool supporting member 36 mounted on the extendiblesection 26 of the boom, and which is adapted for connection in a knownmanner .to a transmission housing 38 of the earth boring tool 35. Alatching arrangement (not shown) may be provided so that the toolsupporting member or collar 36 can be coupled to either the relativelystationary inner section 22 of the boom, or may be coupled to theextendible section 26 of the boom, to permit carrying of the work tooloutwardly with the boom and adjustment of the position of the toollengthwise with respect to the boom, for the full operating range of theboom extension. In other words, the outer boom section 26 may be movedlengthwise relative to the tool supporting member 36 when the latter iscoupled to the inner boom section 22, and in a manner known in the art.

Now in accordance with the instant invention, there is provided a novelarrangement of extensible and retractable fluid transmission line meansfor transmitting pressurized actuating fluid from a source of supplylocated, for instance, on the vehicle, along the derrick boom, and to,for instance, the aforementioned fluid driven, reversible, rotary motorunit 40 of the work mechanism 35. Such fluid transmission lines take theform of pretensioned coiled lines 44, which may be formed of plastic,metal, or any other suitable material which may be disposed in coiledpretensioned form in the general manner of a spring, so that it willtend to retract upon removal of an elongating or tensioning force. Eachof such fluid transmission lines is preferably encapsulated in a housing45 comprising telescopically arranged tubular sections 45a, 45b, whichmay be formed of any suitable material, such as for instance, reinforcedfiberglass structures, that surround the coiled fluid transmission linesand protect and guide them during the extension and retraction of suchlines due for instance to the extension and retraction of the outer boomsection.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 4, the outer section 45a of thecapsule, preferably encompasses the inner section 45b as shown, and withsuch inner section at its telescoping end being tapered as at 47 towardthe outer or free end of the boom, so that as the capsule sectionsretract and expand with respect to one another, the coiled tubular fluidtransmission lines will not be injured or caught on the relativelymoving capsule sections. The transverse size of the capsule sections ispreferably substantially that of the transverse size of the fluidtransmission lines when the coils thereof are disposed in collapsedcondition, and as shown in FIG. 3. 'As the coiled fluid transmissionline is extended with, for instance, the extension of the boom, thetransverse width of the coiled body of the fluid transmission line maydecrease somewhat due to tensioning of the line. Upon retraction of theouter boom section with respect to the inner boom section, theresistance to extension or elastic memory of the fluid transmission linecoils causes retraction of the line and takes up any slack in the line.

The ends of the extendible coiled lines may be pro vided withconventional fittings (e.g. 50) for attachment to relatively stationaryconduits 50a, disposed between the source of pressurized fluid and themechanism to be actuated by such fluid. As shown in FIG. 1, the outerextendible section 26 of the boom may be provided with an elongated slot52 therein for passage of the ends of the coiled transmission lines ofthe capsule sections 4511 therethrough, thereby providing for relativemovement between the tool support 36 and its associated tool 35 and theboom section 26. With the tool support arrangement shown in FIG. 1, itwill be seen that the outer section 45a of the housing 45 is coupled toand moves with the tool support 36 and associated tool, and relative tothe inner section 45b of the housing 45, and with the latter section 45bbeing stationary with respect to inner section 22 of the boom. Anysuitable means, such as lugs 54 may be provided for mounting housingsection 45b in section 22 of the boom, and'apertured partitions 56disposed in outer section 26 of the boom may slidably support outerhousing section 45a in boom section 26.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a fragmentary portion of apowered boom or tower having a personnel support bucket 58 disposed orswingably mounted in cantilever fashion on the outer end thereof, andhaving for instance fluid valve control means 60 of conventional typemounted on the bucket, and adapted to be actuated by workmen disposed inthe bucket. The valve control means 60 could control, for instance, theapplication of fluid pressure to the motor unit :for extending andretracting the boom, and the application of fluid pressure to thepressure actuated means (e.g. 34) for moving the boom with respect toits support. The coiled pretensioned fluid transmission line means ofthe invention may be disposed in the boom in a similar manner asaforediscussed in connection with the firs-t disclosed embodiment andwill be effective to prevent any slack in the fluid transmission linesduring the retraction and extension of the boom with the support bucketon the outer end thereof. The capsule sections a, 45b may be supportedby the respective boom section, and at the ends thereof will permitpassage of the fluid tranmission tubes therethrough in a similar manneras the first described embodiment. However, since the bucket does notmove length-wise with respect to its supporting boom section 26, theouter housing sections 45a may be mounted stationary with respect to theencompassing boom section 26.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings, it will be seenthat the invention provides a novel arrangement of flexible coiled,fluid transmission line means for an extensible boom, for preventing anyslack from occurring in the fluid transmission line means, and forinstance, during retraction and extension of the boom.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of thefeatures shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a portable type mechanism comprising an extensible boom, said boomcomprising a lengthwise stationary inner tubular section and an outertubular section, said outer tubular section being disposed in movabletelescopic relation interiorly of said inner tubular section for varyingthe effective length of said boom, a personnel support mounted on saidouter boom section, fluid control means supported by said boom inaccessible relation to said personnel support, an inner capsule sectionmounted generally stationary interiorly of said inner boom section, anouter capsule section mounted interiorly of said outer boom section formovement therewith, one end of said outer capsule section encompassingthe associated end of said inner capsule section for telescopic coactingmovement lengthwise of said inner capsule section upon movement of saidouter boom section, a reciprocal motor means coupled to said inner boomsection and to said outer boom section for selective extension andretraction of said outer boom section and said outer capsule section,and a pretensioned coiled conduit disposed interiorly of said inner and.outer capsule sections for resilient extension and retraction uponactuation of said motor means, said conduit projecting from one end ofsaid inner capsule section and connected to a source of pressurizedoperating fluid and being connected at its other end to said controlmeans.

2. A portable type mechanism according to claim 1, wherein thepretensioned conduit is formed from polymeric material such as plasticor the like, and wherein the conduit coil outer diameter issubstantially the same as the inner diameter of the inner capsulesection when disposed in the collapsed condition thereof.

3. A portable type mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the inner wallof the telescoping end of said inner capsule section is flared radiallyin the general direction of said encompassing outer capsule section, tofacilitate resilient extension and retraction of said conduit uponactuation of said motor means.

4. A portable type mechanism in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidpersonnel support comprises a personnel bucket swingably mounted incantilever fashion on said outer boom section, said control meanscomprising a valve mounted on said bucket and being operative to controlthe actuation of said reciprocal motor means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Harsch 1822 Eitel182-2 Smith 138-107 X Hall 182-2 X Garnett 1822 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY,Primary Examiner. REINALDO P. MACHADO, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A PORTABLE TYPE MECHANISM COMPRISING AN EXTENSIBLE BOOM, SAID BOOMCOMPRISING A LENGTHWISE STATIONARY INNER TUBULAR SECTION AND AN OUTERTUBULAR SECTION, SAID OUTER TUBULAR SECTION BEING DISPOSED IN MOVABLETELESCOPIC RELATION INTERIORLY OF SAID INNER TUBULAR SECTION FOR VARYINGTHE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID BOOM SECTION, FLUID CONTROL PORT MOUNTED ONSAID OUTER BOOM SECTION, FLUID CONTROL MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID BOOM INACCESSIBLE RELATION TO SAID PERSONNEL SUPPORT, AN INNER CAPSULE SECTIONMOUNTED GENERALLY STATIONARY INTERIOR OF SAID INNER BOOM SECTION, ANOUTER CAPSULE SECTION MOUNTED INTERIORLY OF SAID OUTER BOOM SECTION FORMOVEMENT THEREWITH, ONE END OF SAID OUTER CAPSULE SECTION ENCOMPASSINGTHE ASSOCIATED END OF SAID INNER CAPSULE SECTION FOR TELESCOPIC COACTINGMOVEMENT LENGTHWISE OF SAID INNER CAPSULE SECTION UPON MOVEMENT OF SAIDOUTER BOOM SECTION, A RECIPROCAL MOTOR MEANS COUPLED TO SAID INNER BOOMSECTION AND TO SAID OUTER BOOM SECTION FOR SELECTIVE EXTENSION ANDRETRACTION OF SAID OUTER BOOM SECTION AND SAID OUTER CAPSULE SECTION,AND A PRETENSIONED COILED CONDUIT DISPOSED INTERIORLY OF SAID INNER ANDOUTER CAPSULE SECTIONS FOR RESILIENT EXTENSION AND RETRACTION UPONACTUATION OF SAID MOTOR MEANS, SAID CONDUIT PROJECTING FROM ONE END OFSAID INNER CAPSULE SECTION AND CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZEDOPERATING FLUID AND BEING CONNECTED AT ITS OTHER END TO SAID CONTROLMEANS.